Division and Uncertainty in our Moments of Crisis
Division and Uncertainty in our Moments of Crisis
Rabbi Matthew Goldstone PhD
The seder is full of “ fours ” – the four cups , the four questions , the four children , etc . But there is another , relatively unknown , four in the Passover story from when the Israelites were standing before the sea and Pharaoh ’ s army was approaching . According to the midrash :
“ The Israelites at the Red Sea were divided into four groups . One group said : Let us throw ourselves into the sea . One said : Let us return to Egypt . One said : Let us fight them ; and one said : Let us cry out against them .” 1
At the moment of crisis , when they were ostensibly trapped between sword and water , the people could not agree on the proper course of action .
At our seders this year we might find divisions among family and friends as to what should have been done in response to the events of October 7 th and what Israel – and the world Jewish community – should do next . Or we ourselves , as individuals , might be internally conflicted about decisions – big
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Mechilta deRabbi Ishmael Beshallach Parashah 2 ; H . S Horovitz and I . A . Rabin , Mechilta D ’ Rabbi Ismael cum variis lec < onibus et adnota < onibus ( Jerusalem : Bamberger & Wahrmann , 1970 ), 96 ; J . Z . Lauterbach , Mekhilta De-Rabbi Ishmael a Cri < cal Edi < on , Based on the Manuscripts and Early Edi < ons , vol . 1 ( Philadelphia , PA : Jewish Publicamon Society , 2004 ), 214 . Note : Some versions of this tradimon ( such as the one in Pirkei deRabbeinu HaKodesh ) only describe three groups of Israelites .
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